The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-01

MONKERN'S MACHINE.
Two Jersey Burglars Utilize Track Tri-
cycle in Their Nocturnal Operations.

PHILADELPHIA, July 30.--Timothy and Tom
. NJ on kern, who have committed over twenty rob-
berries in South Jersey in the past few weeks,
are behind the bars of the Camden Jail. To
them belongs the credit of utilizing ingeni-
Gus machine in committing robberies a
large section of country. They eluded arrest
for weeks by Of the machine, although
officers by the score were their trail and re-
wards to the amount of $500 were offered for
their capture. The machine is known to rail
road men as track tricycle. It Is a light iron
arrangement with three wheels. just fitting on
the standard-gauge tracks, and is propelled by
a treadle and endless chain. 1t will carry two
with ease, and is capable of attaining
speed of twenty miles an hour. The machine
which the robbers found SO useful used oy
the section foreman of the Sea Isle City rail-
road, and housed in the station at the
terminus of the road. On the night of July s.
three stores were broken into at Ocean City and
plundered of valnables and goods. The station
entered and the tricycle. stolen. On this
machine the burglars piled the most valuable of
their booty and worked their way to Sea Isle
Junction, thence 10 the West Jersey railroad
and escaped. This was but the beginning of a
series of robberies. which caused intense excite
ment along the West Jersey. Camden e AtlaDti
aud New Jersey Southern roads, and terrorized
South Jersey. In rapid succession the railroad
stations at Sea Isle City, Ocean View, South
Viueland. Forrest Grove. Landisville, on the
New Jersey Southern and Wlnslow on the Cam
: 6en 81 Atlantic roads were broken into ard
money, tickets, stamps and all small portable
articles of value were taken. the Winslow sta
Iion entered for second time a few
nights ago and an attempt was made to burn it.
Trowbridge's general store at Ham,nontown was
also broken into twice and $500 worth of goods
we're stolen. By means OF the noiseless ma
chine the burglars were able to make descent
on railroad station or village store at night,
when the country folks were fast asleep. secure
what they wanted and speed swiftly awav with
out leaving the slightest trail behind The ma
chine is SO light the two men could easily lift it
off the track and hide it in the bushes if they
were pursued or train appeared. They were
well posted the schedule time of the express
trains and avoided collision. The robbers
finally became bold that they would enter
houses in the daytime near the railroad tracks
and take small articles of value. The robbery of
Tillyer 81 Bros store, in Winslow. on Saturday
night, led to the capture of the bold burglars.
At about day break on Monday morning Consta-
ble Bates, of Winslow, saw suspicious looking
man with a bag crossing the field near the place.
He halted him and found that the bag contained
caus of condensed milk which had been stolen
from Tillyer e. Bros store Saturday night.
The prisoner was brought to the Camden ja;.
and committed for trial, and it was several days
before he was identified as Thomas Monkern.
of the burglars who had been operating IN
South Jersey. On Tuesday he made a partial
confession by which a portion of the stolen goods
were recovered that night in the woods
near Winslow. Timothy Monkern was
captured through the watehfulness OF
detective Doak, who had been en-
ployed by the railroad to ferret out the burglars
Early yesterday morning Doak discovered the
missing tricycle., which he had been chasing for
several days, hidden in the bushes the
West Jersey railroad station, in Clayton.
roughly dressed stranger with heavy yase
boarded the first train for Philadelphia. The
detective ordered his arrest by wire, and he was
captured while alighting from the cars in Cam
den by Special Officer Dets of the Pennsylvania
road. The prisoner gave his name Thomas
GLADDEN., but the detective. arriving. identi-
fed him Timothy Monkern. He was loaded
down with booty, and wore clothing which had
been stolen from Trowbridee's store in Hammon-
ton. The prisoner belonged at small place on
the Camden & Atlantic road near Vineland.